Garmin Working on Beechjet, Hawker G5000 Avionics Retrofit

Garmin is currently developing a G5000 avionics retrofit for Beechjet 400A and Hawker 400 XP jets.

(An illustration of what the Beechjet 400A G5000 cockpit will look like. Photo, courtesy of Garmin.)

The recently reorganized Beechcraft Corp. no longer produces either model, and Garmin is looking to give owners a glass cockpit with three high-resolution 12-inch flight displays, ADS-B and two touch screen display/controllers to serve as the primary crew interface for the system.

“This upgrade offers existing owners and operators a chance to breathe new life into the aircraft they love with industry leading situational awareness tools, safety enhancements, and NextGen capabilities. And they get all this in addition to an estimated 200 pound useful load increase," said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing at Garmin.

Garmin is targeting STC certification for the modernized flight deck by 2015, estimating the retrofit will cost between $450,000 and $500,000 installed.